Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/182547 
Authors: 
Year of Publication: 
2005
Series/Report no.: 
GIGA Working Papers No. 4
Publisher: 
German Institute of Global and Area Studies (GIGA), Hamburg
Abstract: 
Current thinking on African conflicts suffers from misinterpretations (oversimplification, lack of focus, lack of conceptual clarity, state-centrism and lack of vision). The paper analyses a variety of the dominant explanations of major international actors and donors, showing how these frequently do not distinguish with sufficient clarity between the 'root causes' of a conflict, its aggravating factors and its triggers. Specifically, a correct assessment of conflict prolonging (or sustaining) factors is of vital importance in Africa's lingering confrontations. Broader approaches (e.g. "structural stability") offer a better analytical framework than familiar one-dimensional explanations. Moreover, for explaining and dealing with violent conflicts a shift of attention from the nation-state towards the local and sub-regional level is needed.
Subjects: 
Sub-Saharan Africa
Conflict Prevention
Conflict Factors
Root causes
Conflict Prolonging Factors
Escalation Patterns
Peace Order
Structural Stability
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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